The Kentucky Wildcats and the Gonzaga Bulldogs don't have a long or lengthy history. They have played a total of three times. Two of those three matchups are very recent, with the oldest matchup only being in 2002. Last year was the first time that the Bulldogs have ever been to Rupp Arena, though Kentucky played too good of a host by letting Gonzaga carry a win home.
Kentucky has only been able to pull off the victory once in those three contests, and it was the earliest game played. The Wildcats will be itching to pull it off on Saturday, even if they have to travel across the country to do it. The Clemson loss is tasting bitter in their mouths, and they will want to flush it with a good win over the Zags. Let's dive into each of the last three games.
2024 - Gonzaga 89-85 Kentucky
Kentucky played host to an unranked Gonzaga, which is surprising to write, but they had lost a few frustrating games in their season. One was to Santa Clara, and more recently (for this matchup), St. Mary's. They were just outside the top 25 and looking for a big win over 17th-ranked Kentucky.
They did just that, silencing the Rupp crowd and frustrating Big Blue Nation. This is one of the games that BBN points back to as a clear sign that Coach John Calipari needed to move on.
It was a tight game, but the difference was in rebounding. Gonzaga hauled in 43 boards to Kentucky's 31. Gonzaga doesn't do it with just big men; they are a team rebounding team and have been since Mark Few took over decades ago. They had four players with at least five rebounds. Though big man, Graham Ike was a monster for the Zags. He scored 23 points, and his physical play in the post helped fuel the Bulldogs' victory.
Kentucky got 21 points from Reed Sheppard, but he went 0-3 from three, a sign of the Wildcats' frustrating night. The team couldn't knock down baskets when it mattered.
2022 - Gonzaga 88-72 Kentucky
In 2022, #4 Kentucky (ominous, I know) traveled to Spokane for their first trip ever there. It was a top 5 matchup as Gonzaga was ranked #2 then. The game was a battle, but Gonzaga dominated in the first half to give them the advantage they needed. The Zags scored 41 to Kentucky's 25 in the first half. The Wildcats performed way better on the back of Oscar Tshiebwe in the second half, scoring a team total of 47 points. Tshiebwe had a double-double with 20 points and 15 rebounds.
2002 - Kentucky 80-72 Gonzaga
The only time Kentucky has taken out the Gonzaga Bulldogs happened over 20 years ago and it was in the Maui Invitational. Kentucky and Gonzaga both won their first-round games and lost their second-round games. Thus, they were playing each other in the third-place game of the challenge. Kentucky was able to put together a strong second half, scoring 47 points and limiting the Bulldogs to 40 to pull it off. That team was coached by none other than Tubby Smith.